How do you become a pilot of a Freighter???

[WilliamLochrie]

Hi everyone!

I have aspirations to become a commercial pilot but more accurately a pilot flying freight rather than passengers! I do know how to get into the airline "business" but how do they take on freight pilots??? Do they recruit pilots who have a lot of experience on type or can you go from flying a 737 say to flying a 757-SF. Any part sponsored schemes? How does it work???? Responses from any cargo pilots really appreciated and for any advice given from people who have knowledge on the subject.
Thank You
William

[11Fan]

William,

You may have more success if you post over on the forum that is dedicated to your type of questions.

That would be Professional Pilot Training

Best of luck to you.

[WilliamLochrie]

Ahhhh Ok, Thanks for that 11Fan. I will PM the mods and ask them to move it into that group.:)
Thanks
William

[Intruder]

You do the same as what you would do for any flying job: Get your certificates, get some flying experience any way you can, then submit applications. Depending on the carrier, it may be easier or harder than getting on with a passenger airline. Some "entry level" jobs are available as well as some very lucrative and sought-after jobs.

[Ingwe]

same way you get any job, put in a CV.......

[sapco2]

Hi William,

I think you've raised a fair question and enquiries like your's crop up from time to time on this forum.

Firstly good luck with your career aspirations; I've got an 18 year son myself and he wants to follow my footsteps into aviation, albeit I'm doing my level best to encourage him away from the idea!

In answer to your question; you may or may not be lucky enough to get a start job in the freight world but you need to get away from any preconceived ideas you might have about freighting being a launch pad to better things because it isn't.

Getting a professional pilots licence in the first place is the tricky bit and that means lots of hard graft. You can self finance the training, join the military or obtain sponsorship from a host airline or training organisation.

Your question seems to imply you are not interested in the military, so why not surf the web to see which airlines are offering sponsorship. You could help yourself by looking at the Guild of Air Pilots & Air Navigators website; also the RAeS; both organisations host sponsorship schemes.

Once again I wish you good luck with your quest - hope it all works out for you.

[WilliamLochrie]

Hi William,

I think you've raised a fair question and enquiries like your's crop up from time to time on this forum.

Firstly good luck with your career aspirations; I've got an 18 year son myself and he wants to follow my footsteps into aviation, albeit I'm doing my level best to encourage him away from the idea!

In answer to your question; you may or may not be lucky enough to get a start job in the freight world but you need to get away from any preconceived ideas you might have about freighting being a launch pad to better things because it isn't.

Getting a professional pilots licence in the first place is the tricky bit and that means lots of hard graft. You can self finance the training, join the military or obtain sponsorship from a host airline or training organisation.

Your question seems to imply you are not interested in the military, so why not surf the web to see which airlines are offering sponsorship. You could help yourself by looking at the Guild of Air Pilots & Air Navigators website; also the RAeS; both organisations host sponsorship schemes.

Once again I wish you good luck with your quest - hope it all works out for you.


Thanks for your reply sapco2. Thanks also for your best wishes on my deisred career, i appreciate that. Why dont you want your son to go into the airline industry though, is it because of all the stress it involves?
Im currentely at uni and doing a PPL as we speak. I am always an active researcher in the industry and check FTO webste's daily to see if there are any schemes going. Albeit there is at the moment with NetJets and OAT forming a partnership. I did look at the military and seriously considered it but i decided that trying to raise money/take a secured loan would be the option for me and then i will hopefully go to OAT or Flight Training Europe. The only reason why i ask about the Freighter is there arent many schemes offered by carriers in the UK. For example, i know that Cathay Pacific and DragonAir do sponsorship schemes where they fully fund the training but for this you must be a resident in Hong Kong and im not!!!!
Just out of interest which plane do you fly??? Im intruiged now!
Thanks for your response to my question
William

[sapco2]

. Why dont you want your son to go into the airline industry though, is it because of all the stress it involves?

William,

That thought might just make my wife and son chuckle because every time they see me pack a suitcase they think I'm off on holiday.

You've taken a 'tongue in cheek remark' quite literally and I suppose I asked for the response you gave! Actually, I wouldn't dream of interfering with my son's career plans. What I should perhaps have said is "I have never encouraged him to pursue an aviation career".

It's great to see young people with career minded direction and you can bet your bottom dollar the majority of pilots using this forum would tell you they achieved their flying ambitions through gut 'single minded' determination.

In answer to your 2nd part of your question; B757's, European routes.